Tag: inheritance

1 Peter 1:4 – Eternal Inheritance

Posted on by Will

to an inheritance which is incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you,

Truth to Learn

Our inheritance, as born again children of God, is guaranteed for us, and it will never be taken away from us.

 

Behind the Words

The word translated “inheritance” is klēronomia, which is made up of klēros, referring to “a lot” or “a share” and a form of nemō, meaning “to hold” or “to have in one’s power.” It is a reference to being in possession of a share of someone’s estate (in this case, God’s estate).

“Incorruptible” is from the Greek word aphthartos, which is a compound word of the privative a, meaning “not” and a form of phtheirō, meaning “to corrupt” or “to destroy” or “to cause to waste away.” Hence, aphthartos refers to “something that does not waste away and cannot be destroyed.”

The word translated “undefiled” is amiantos, made up of the privative a, meaning “not” or “without” and a form of miainō, which means “to stain, to pollute, or to defile.” Hence, amiantos refers to “that which is pure, clean, and unpolluted.”

The expression “that does not fade away” is translated from amarantos, which is made up of the privative a, meaning “not” and a form of marainō, meaning “to extinguish, to go out, to dry up, or to fade away.” Hence it refers to “something that is perpetual and does not diminish at all with time.”

Tēreō is the Greek word translated “reserved.” It is the word used of a guard keeping a prisoner in jail or of someone who keeps the commandments of the Law. So we could translate it as “keep.” It is expressed here in the perfect tense indicating past completed action with an ongoing effect, where the emphasis is on the effect. Thus, we use the word “reserved” indicating the current, ongoing effect of being kept securely.

 

Meaning Explained

According to Ephesians 1:5 our predestination results in our adoption by Jesus Christ himself:

having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will,

And, in Ephesians 1:11 Paul says that we’ve received an inheritance from that predestination:

In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will,

Now Peter says that the inheritance which results from our being born again cannot be destroyed, is unpolluted, and does not diminish with time. Like Paul told us in Ephesians 1:14:

who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.

We have the Holy Spirit as the guarantee of our inheritance, so Peter now tells us that the inheritance that we already have rights to cannot fade away or diminish. It is being securely guarded and cannot be taken away. If that’s not a description of eternal security, then I don’t know what is.

 

Application

Here in the first 4 verses of 1 Peter we are instructed that not only were we chosen by God to obtain this salvation, but that it is irrevocable and will never disappear (in other words, we can never lose our salvation!)

No wonder Peter is so full of praise to God. We should be as well!

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2016 Will Krause. All rights reserved

Ephesians 1:14 – Our Eternal Guarantee

Posted on by Will

who is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.

Truth to Learn

If you are saved, you are permanently saved.

 

Behind the Words

“Earnest” is translated from the Greek word arrabōn, which is actually transliterated from the Hebrew word. The Hebrew word refers to “a deposit given as evidence and proof that some act will be done and the deposit is not returned until the act is completed.”

The word “inheritance” is from klēronomia, which is derived from klēronomos. This is made up of klēros, which refers to “a lot” or “a portion” and nemō, meaning “to hold or have in one’s possession.” Thus, klēronomos refers to “having a right to receive a portion of an inheritance,” that is “an heir,” and klēronomia refers to the substance of the inheritance.

Apolutrōsis is the Greek word translated “redemption.” It is made up of apo, meaning “from” and a form of the verb lutroō, meaning “to receive a ransom.” Therefore, we see that apolutrōsis means “to release as a result of having been paid a ransom.”

 “Purchased possession” is the translation of the Greek word peripoiēsis, which is made up of peri, indicating acquisition of something and poieō, meaning “to make.” So, we see that peripoiēsis means “that which was acquired or purchased.”

 

Meaning Explained

In yesterday’s verse Paul taught us that when we first believed the gospel message, the truth that Jesus died on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins, we were sealed, or branded, with the Holy Spirit (notice that we were sealed “with” the Holy Spirit, not “by” the Holy Spirit.) The Holy Spirit is our seal! In the current verse Paul tells us that the Holy Spirit, with whom we have been branded, is our guarantee. He said basically the same thing to the Corinthians:

and He who is confirming you with us into Christ, and did anoint us, is God, who also sealed us, and gave the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts. (2 Corinthians 1:21, 22)

This is very much like earnest money in a real estate transaction. When an offer is made on a house or other property, it is accompanied with earnest money. If for some reason the purchasing party backs out of the deal, the earnest money is forfeited. The earnest money cannot be taken back, it is a binding part of the transaction.

An Old Testament example of this earnest, or pledge, is given to us in Genesis 38:17-18 where Judah promised Tamar that he would pay her for her services with a young goat on the following day. She was given his seal and staff as earnest until the transaction was completed. Since Judah never sent the payment, Tamar kept the seal and staff.

Too many people read over today’s verse and completely miss what Paul is telling us. Since God has given us the Holy Spirit as a seal and guarantee of our salvation, God has promised that He will complete the transaction or forfeit the guarantee. In other words, if we were to get “unsaved” then we would get to keep the Holy Spirit, God couldn’t take it back. There are those who say, “Yes, but if I choose to walk away from God and cancel the transaction myself, I would have to return the earnest.” However Christ said:

My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.  (John 10:27-28)

In other words, you can’t cancel salvation’s transaction because even you can’t take yourself out of His hand!

And, even if you could cancel the transaction, how would you give the Holy Spirit back to God? You didn’t take Him to yourself in the first place, God sealed you with Him. Let’s go back to the cattle analogy. When a cow is branded by the owner, it’s not something the cow does, it’s something the owner does and the cow can’t give back the brand because it isn’t his (or hers) to give or take, it’s all the owner’s doing. It’s just as absurd to imagine how a Christian would accomplish giving the Holy Spirit back to God as it is to imagine how a cow would somehow remove a brand and give it back to its owner.

I’ve had this discussion with numerous Christians who, after reading these verses, say, “Yes, but what about …” Then they quote a passage that seems to imply that we might somehow lose our salvation. They never refute the facts presented in these verses. Paul is very clear here and very specific. When a person confesses Christ as Lord and Savior, he or she is permanently sealed with the Holy Spirit, an action that can’t be undone!

 

Application

If you are saved, you are securely, eternally saved, period! There is nothing that you or anyone else can do to unsave you because you possess the Holy Spirit, God’s irrevocable guarantee!

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2015 Will Krause. All rights reserved

Ephesians 1:11 – His Free Will

Posted on by Will

In Him, in whom we also obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will,

Truth to Learn

All of the aspects of our salvation have come about because God determined them of His own free will.

 

Behind the Words

The word translated “we … obtained an inheritance” is klēroō. Literally, it means “to cast lots.”  By application it means “to allot” or “to assign something.” It is expressed here in the aorist tense (a completed action in the past) and the passive voice (something done to the subject). Thus, it refers to something that was allotted to us; that is, an inheritance which was assigned to us at a point in time in the past.

“Being predestined” is from the Greek word prooridzō, which we saw back in verse five. There we learned that it means “to establish or determine something beforehand.”

“The purpose” is from protithēmi, meaning “something put in place beforehand.”

The word “works” is from energeō, which means “to be active, to make something happen, to do something, or to work.”

The phrase “the counsel of His will” is from tēn boulēn tou thelēmatos autou. The two key words are boulēn, meaning “a wish or a desire” and thelēmatos, meaning “a determination.” We could paraphrase this as “The desire of His determination.” Thus, this expression indicates something that God determined to do simply because He wanted to do it.

 

Meaning Explained

Back in verse two we noted that the content and meaning of these verses is sort of like drinking from a fire hose. Paul has packed a lot of doctrine (teaching) into each of these verses.

Here he tells us that “In Him,” that is, in Christ, we obtained (past completed action) an inheritance from God. This is not something that we earned, but something that is freely given to us simply because we have been adopted into God’s family (see verse five). Paul also tells us that this inheritance (our adoption), our redemption, and the forgiveness of our sins were all put in place beforehand. All of this goes back to His choosing us before He created anything. This is the point in time (actually before time) when God determined the plan of salvation and set it in place. For those of you who believe that we can somehow lose our salvation, how can we possibly lose something that God put in place before the world was created?

The last phrase of this verse is a powerful statement of how our God operates. It says that God does everything He does simply because He wants to. He is not constrained to do anything. Nobody can force or even entice God to do anything. So what Paul is telling us here is that the entire plan of salvation, from His choosing us, to His adopting us, to His paying the ransom for our sins, to His casting our sins far, far away, to granting us an inheritance, is all done simply because He wanted to do it. In other words, God did not do all these things because we chose to believe the gospel message and get saved. That would be us telling God what to do. The entire plan of salvation is all His doing and only His doing.

 

Application

As hard as it is for many of us to believe, our salvation is all God’s doing. That shouldn’t make us complacent, it should make us eternally grateful and humbled before Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will! Praise God!

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2015 Will Krause. All rights reserved

Ephesians 5:5 – How’s Your Behavior

Posted on by Will

For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.

Truth to Learn

Christians should act like Christians, not heathens.

Behind the Words

The words “you know” are translated from the two Greek words este ginōskontes. The word este means “you (plural) are.” However, the better texts have iste ginōskontes. The word iste is a form of eidō, meaning “to see” or “to perceive.” Ginōskontes is a participial form of ginōskō (to know or understand). Now, whereas eidō suggests intuitive knowledge or understanding, ginōskō suggests acquired or experiential knowledge. Iste is expressed here in the imperative mood, therefore the opening part of this verse could be translated as “Know this, recognizing (by your own experience) that …”

The words “fornicator,” “unclean person,” and “covetous man” are based on the same root words as “fornication,” “uncleanness,” and “covetousness,” which we saw in verse three. In that verse they referred to the sinful actions, whereas in this verse they refer to the people who habitually perform such sinful actions.

“Inheritance” is translated from klēronomia. This is based on klēros, which refers to a “lot” or “portion” and nemō, meaning “to hold.” Thus klēronomia refers to the possession of a portion of an inheritance.

Meaning Explained

In verse three Paul introduced three types of life styles that he said are not “appropriate” for Christians. He told us that we should be walking in love instead. Then, in verse four he talked about avoiding other actions (filthiness, foolish talking, and coarse jesting) that exemplify the three lifestyles mentioned in verse three.

He now explains why fornication, uncleanness, and covetousness are not appropriate for us. To the first century Greek mind a fornicator was someone whose life was defined by fornication. Likewise, an unclean person or a covetous person was not someone who occasionally committed an act of uncleanness or of covetousness; it was someone whose life was characterized by uncleanness or covetousness. So, Paul is not saying that anyone who occasionally covets something will be barred from heaven. If that were the case, none of us would be part of God’s kingdom. What Paul is saying is that since those fornicators, unclean people, and covetousness people will not be part of God’s kingdom, then we Christians should not resemble them in any of our actions.

Notice, now, that Paul equates covetousness with idolatry. Idolatry is when we consider anything in God’s creation of greater value than God Himself. In other words, when we have a greater desire for “stuff” than for acquiring a close personal relationship with God, we are worshipping an idol.

Application

Do your actions give evidence that you are part of God’s family or do you resemble people of the world and those who worship idols? Let’s all recommit ourselves to living like God’s children and confessing and forsaking everything else.

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2012 Will Krause. All rights reserved.

Ephesians 1:14 – Our Eternal Guarantee

Posted on by Will

Ephesians 1:14  – Our Eternal Guarantee

who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.

Truth to Learn

If you are saved, you are permanently saved.

Behind the Words

“Guarantee” is translated from the Greek word arrabōn, which is actually transliterated from the Hebrew word. The Hebrew word refers to “a deposit given as evidence and proof that some act will be done and the deposit is not returned until the act is completed.”

The word “inheritance” is from klēronomia, which is derived from klēronomos. This is made up of klēros, which refers to “a lot” or “a portion” and nemō, meaning “to hold or have in one’s possession.” Thus, klēronomos refers to “having a right to receive a portion of an inheritance,” that is “an heir,” and klēronomia refers to the substance of the inheritance.

“Purchased possession” is the translation of the Greek word peripoiēsis, which is made up of peri, indicating acquisition of something and poieō, meaning “to make.” So, we see that peripoiēsis means “that which was acquired or purchased.”

Meaning Explained

In yesterday’s verse Paul taught us that when we first believed the gospel message, the truth that Jesus died on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins, we were sealed, or branded, with the Holy Spirit. In the current verse he tells us that the Holy Spirit, with whom we have been branded, is our guarantee. This is very much like earnest money in a real estate transaction. When an offer is made on a house or other property, it is accompanied with earnest money. If for some reason the purchasing party backs out of the deal, the earnest money is forfeited.

An Old Testament example of this earnest, or pledge, is given to us in Genesis 38:17-18 where Judah promised Tamar that he would pay her for her services with a young goat on the following day. She kept his seal and staff until the transaction was completed. Since Judah never sent the payment, Tamar kept the seal and staff.

Too many people read over today’s verse and completely miss what Paul is telling us. Since we have been given the Holy Spirit as a seal and guarantee of our salvation, God has promised that He will complete the transaction or forfeit the guarantee. In other words, if we were to get “unsaved” then we would get to keep the Holy Spirit, God couldn’t take it back. There are those who would say, “Yes, but if I cancel the transaction myself, I would have to return the earnest.” However Christ said:

My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.  (John 10:27-28)

In other words, you can’t cancel salvation’s transaction because even you can’t take yourself out of His hand!

Application

If you are saved, you are securely, eternally saved, period! There is nothing that you or anyone else can do to unsave you because you possess God’s irrevocable guarantee!

In God’s service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2011 Will Krause. All rights reserved.

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

If this message or this link was forwarded to you by a friend and you wish to receive future verses directly to your inbox, send an e-mail to:

Ephesians 1:11 – His Free Will

Posted on by Will

Ephesians 1:11  – His Free Will

In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will,

Truth to Learn

All of the aspects of our salvation have come about because God determined them of His own free will.

Behind the Words

The word translated “we have obtained an inheritance” is klēroō. Literally, it means “to cast lots.”  By application it means “to allot” or “to assign something.” It is expressed here in the aorist tense (a completed action in the past) and the passive voice (something done to the subject). Thus, it refers to something that was allotted to us; that is, an inheritance which was assigned to us at a point in time in the past.

“Being predestined” is from the Greek word prooridzō, which we saw back in verse five. There we learned that it means “to establish or determine something beforehand.”

“The purpose” is from protithēmi, meaning “something put in place beforehand.”

The word “works” is from energeō, which means “to be active, to make something happen, to do something, or to work.”

The phrase “the counsel of His will” is from tēn boulēn tou thelēmatos autou. The two key words are boulēn, meaning “a wish or a desire” and thelēmatos, meaning “a determination.” Thus, this expression indicates something that God determined to do simply because He wanted to do it.

Meaning Explained

Back in verse two we noted that the content and meaning of these verses is sort of like drinking from a fire hose. Paul has packed a lot of doctrine (teaching) into each of these verses.

Here he tells us that “In Him,” that is, in Christ, we obtained (past completed action) an inheritance from God. This is not something that we earned, but something that is freely given to us simply because we have been adopted into God’s family (see verse five). Paul also tells us that this inheritance, our adoption, our redemption, and the forgiveness of our sins were all put in place beforehand. All of this goes back to His choosing us before He created anything. This is the point in time (actually before time) when God determined the plan of salvation and set it in place.

The last phrase of this verse is a powerful statement of how our God operates. It says that God does everything He does simply because He wants to. He is not constrained to do anything. Nobody can force or even entice God to do anything. So what Paul is telling us here is that the entire plan of salvation, from His choosing us, to His adopting us, to His paying the ransom for our sins, to His casting our sins far, far away, to granting us an inheritance, is all done simply because He wanted to do it. In other words, God did not do all these things because we chose to believe the gospel message and get saved. That would be us telling God what to do. The entire plan of salvation is all His doing and only His doing.

Application

As hard as it is for many of us to believe, our salvation is all God’s doing. That shouldn’t make us complacent, it should make us eternally grateful and humbled before Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will! Praise God!

In God’s service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2011 Will Krause. All rights reserved.

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

If this message or this link was forwarded to you by a friend and you wish to receive future verses directly to your inbox, send an e-mail to: